hey guys been lurking for a while and am fascinated now with vintage bikes.I am in the process of restoring a 64ct90 but am thinking of scrapping the build for a bike more streetable.I am thinking about building up a Bultaco Sherpa frame into a bare bones /cafe type streetbike.I have found a roller on CL for 200 bucks and am really thinking of picking it up for a project.From what i know thw Matador was the street version so am i guessing right that all parts interchangeable?also what engine should i look for and could other brand motors fit in the frame?any info greatly appreciated.

The Metralla is actually the street version for Bultacos . Very few of these made it to the US. I see no reason why you could not build a Sherpa into a cafe bike. If possible stay away from a fiberglass tank and go right to plastic and change over to a flattrack type seat with padding. The gear box will be your biggest obstacle as it is close ratio and will be pretty odd no matter how you gear it. Perhaps a Matador gear-set might work for you. Contact Hughes Bultaco, bultacomotorcycles.com and they can likely tell you all the pitfalls. For sure you want a Mikuni carb. The low pipe is available from several sources for flattrack. You will want to change the front brake at least. Try a Honda comstar cast wheel from the 80s/90s with a disc brake set-up. This sounds like a fun project.

Very interesting indeed, the Sherpa's I know are the trials machines, so very grunty engine with massive torque but not fast, (my 350cc can theoretical go 50 miles/h which I will never try out). For the city this is OK, certainly an other secondary gear ratio will help very much.

On the other hand, very light and you don't sit really uncomfortable may be another foot peg location will help too.

BUT as the Alpina was made as an demand from US I would take an Alpina model, better seat position, already changed foot peg position, gear ratios are much better and secondary gear ratio too.

An Alpina model I would recommend you, as these must be too more often in craiglist ad's in the US then the Sherpas.

To the interchangeability be careful the engine of the Alpina and the Sherpa are for example completly different, (it looks that the engine are clones but they have different displacement, gear ratios, even the engine side cases on both bikes are in detail different!)

well the roller he has is listed as a Sherpa but he states thats what he was told by someone.he has no idea of the year also.was gonna pick it up today but he did not return my text or phone call so i dont know whats up.there are a ton of frames on ebay maybe ill just get one and start a project.thanks for info

Which sherpa?, Sherpa T or Sherpa S? The Sherpa T is the trials version, a Torquey low end and wide ratio gears. The Sherpa S was was a totally different animal, lots more(peakier) power and close ratio trans.

well the roller he has is listed as a Sherpa but he states thats what he was told by someone.he has no idea of the year also.was gonna pick it up today but he did not return my text or phone call so i dont know whats up.there are a ton of frames on ebay maybe ill just get one and start a project.thanks for info

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike in idaho

Which sherpa?, Sherpa T or Sherpa S? The Sherpa T is the trials version, a Torquey low end and wide ratio gears. The Sherpa S was was a totally different animal, lots more(peakier) power and close ratio trans.

This will be interested, the Sherpa S, (very early model), is more rare in realition to commonness, so I personal believe it's a trials bike he is selling, but as we never know. If it doesnt look complete and beeing a roller = non working engine I would rise my personal expectations even it's very cheap 200$, ...

ok well he got back to me,goin tues to pick up.this will be my first build kind goin in blind.but i have a few friends who work on motorcycles.im thinkin this is like a blank canvas to build a nice bike.hopefully....but maybe I have been watching too much Cafe Racer tv

Should on first sight really are a scrambler Sherpa S model, as the steering angle isn't so steep as for the trials bikes. The forks look heavy used and probably need rechroming, might be bend too, (in my experience most forks ond older used bikes are bend or just had not much luck here). The spokes look rusty might also be behind rescue.
The shocks looks like to be the original, difficult to repair, the early once where able to take apart, the later once are sadly not rebuildable.

Aligning the stanchions and rechroming will cost about 220€ here in Europe, I just had to do this for my SWM.

I personal would look for something more complete as all the parts you need will be expensive to buy here and there, otherwise it's not bad to have some spares. If it is your first bike rebuild take one of your friends with you he should examine the bike in detail for you to get a clue if it is worth to restaurate and probably not a pocket grave.